The Light

From 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores Paul’s resolute commitment to preach Christ crucified—not with worldly wisdom or rhetorical brilliance, but with straightforward confidence in the power of the cross to save.

From the Series: How Great Is Our God!

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Understanding the "fear of the Lord" begins with recognizing God's character. Proverbs 8:13 reminds us that reverence for God is not about living in constant terror but about honoring Him so deeply that we reject what He calls evil. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, obedience becomes less about fear of punishment and more about love, trust, and respect for the One who is perfectly holy and perfectly good.

This devotion encourages believers to move beyond a distorted view of God as someone waiting for them to fail. Instead, Scripture reveals a Father who calls His children to walk in wisdom, love, and holiness. Genuine reverence for God transforms our hearts, shaping the way we speak, make decisions, and respond to temptation because we desire to reflect His character.

Highlights:

• Reverence for God grows out of knowing His holy and loving character
• Respecting the Lord leads us to reject pride, evil, and sinful behavior
• Obedience is rooted in love for Christ, not merely fear of consequences
• God's desire is to draw His people closer, not push them away through intimidation
• A healthy view of God inspires joyful faithfulness and spiritual growth

Join the Conversation

When you hear the phrase "fear the Lord," what comes to mind? How has your understanding of God's character shaped the way you approach Him in worship, obedience, and everyday life?

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Full Transcript Below:

What it Means to Respect the Lord
By Vivian Bricker 

Bible Reading:
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech” (Proverbs 8:13). 

Many of us grew up hearing about the fear of the Lord. As someone who did not grow up in the church, I didn't hear about this until much later. However, I can imagine the anxiety it raised in the hearts of children. 

The idea of fearing the Lord suggests that we are supposed to be afraid of Him. When we look at the Bible, we don't see Jesus as a scary, fear-mongering God. Instead, we see Him being born into the world as an innocent baby on one silent night (Luke 2:11). 

Fearing the Lord has bred many problems within preaching as well as theology in general. This is because far too many people take fear to literally mean being afraid—and this is a comple

Life in this world is hard, and opposition is real. But the Christian believer has a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These trials may test our faith, but real faith will be proved genuine in trial. We who love Jesus have joy in the prospect of his coming. And this joy and this hope have power to sustain us in days of darkness.

Dr. Stanley explains that every facet of our lives is affected by what we believe.

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Why did Jesus begin His ministry by calling fishermen?

In this episode of God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook, Patricia welcomes Randal "Randy" Teague—attorney, world traveler, and author of Jesus and His Fisherman: The Untold Story. After studying history, Scripture, and the culture surrounding the Sea of Galilee, Randy invites us to see familiar Gospel accounts through fresh eyes.

Rather than viewing Peter, Andrew, James, and John simply as names in a Bible story, this conversation uncovers the realities of their daily lives, the challenges they faced under Roman rule, and the remarkable qualities Jesus saw in ordinary working men who would help change the world.

This conversation isn't simply about history. It's about discovering how understanding Jesus' world can deepen our own faith and strengthen our walk with Him today.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why Jesus chose fishermen as His first disciples
• How the Sea of Galilee shaped Jesus' ministry
• What Jewish culture reveals about the Gospel story
• Lessons every believer can learn from the lives of Peter and the other fishermen
• How perseverance, humility, and faithfulness remain essential qualities for followers of Christ

Randy also shares the heart behind his new book, Jesus and His Fisherman: The Untold Story, and why he believes this message is especially relevant for Christians navigating today's culture.

If today's conversation encouraged you, would you take a moment to subscribe, follow the podcast, and leave a review? Your support helps more people discover stories that strengthen faith and point hearts toward Christ.

You'll find links to Randy's book, additional resources, and Patricia's companion blog in the show notes.

If a book giveaway is available for this episode, be sure to visit the blog for details on how to enter.

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Are we told specifically to remember God and reflect on His attributes? What is "double-mindedness" exactly? My friends are telling me I won't go to heaven, because I don't go to church. Are they right? Is it true that we (the people) are the church? How do we best understand the warnings to the churches in Revelation? What about people who never hear the gospel? And what about babies who pass away?

1. Read verses 5–7. What do these verses reveal about the Father's heart and Jesus' willingness?
2. Read verses 8–9. Where do Christians still mix the first covenant with the second, and why is that exhausting?
3. Read verse 10. What changes when holiness (sanctification) is a once-for-all gift, not a lifelong achievement project?
4. Read verses 11-12. What does standing vs. sitting represent here? Which are you doing? Why?
5. Read verse 14. What arises within you when you hear that Jesus made you perfect forever? Objections? Celebration? Why?
6. Read verse 15. How does this shape your view of the Holy Spirit's attitude toward you?
7. Read verses 16–17. How does "sins remembered no more" change how you view yourself with God?
8. Read verse 18. What modern "offerings" do people still bring today when forgiveness is already complete?